Spring



Sept. 30, 1952 R 2,612,370

SPRING Filed Jan. 15, 1949 i '2 SHEETS SHEET 1 INVENTOR. E RNST E6 ER 9% WIT/W ATTORNEY.

Sept. 30, 1952 E EGER 2,612,370

SPRING Filed Jan. 15, 1949 2 S l-EETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. ERNST EGER -Randall A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 t um TED v STATES OFFICE SPRING ErxistEgn-LosAn eles Ca t,:assi orto n d S a es tubben Gompany, ew Yo k, N- Y corporationofNew Jersey 7 Application- J anuar-y 15, 1949,--Serial No.-'71,060-

This invention: relatestoaxspringand, inaparltiCl11a1,'t0 Figure-,1, Ish'ow sin-embodiment ofny icular; it relates to a y e f p i -"embodying .irrvention-in-:the formofza pairof sp in unit 2. rubber composition in combination-with strain 1 and 2 positioned: iIl-IOOIIIPIQSSiQHIflHd supported "resisting elements. :by a. pair. oiupper brackets f3' and a pair of lower Most conventional springs of. the rubber'type .5 ibnackets 4,. Thespring units compriseessentielare ordinarily in the form of va bushing xorsleeve 01y layer-soft jabricsiandia which is bondedtoe :in whichtthesspringeiiect is obtained by-\p1acrelatively thickzlgyer ,ofrubber cqmpositionifi, wing-the rubber'composition in torque. Another Theinitial-eonstruction ofrthe-spring units I kind of conventional spring :is the rpneumatic and! is, shown: inaparticulert in :Fi ure '3. this ztype. II have found that-a; new spring: construc- 10 "viewzthefabricsj; and 5a; formed;,-of; inextensibie tion's'm'ay be formed by placingarubberrin'com- .orgstrainuiresisting, elements ,oonsti-tute 3, -base pression through the medium -of inextensive or .zuponmhioh .therulober .6 is vulcanized. --'I he strainiresistingi elements and utilizing the com- "fabric {has hereinafterdescribed joined at pression Vfo'rces-soobtained 'forthe purpose. of 1each;mend .toalmins,Tl 24 35158,. Thesfabric .5 mfifrbe supporting a load. A spring constructionl'in'iac- 15 .iprmed of vvariqus lforms ,of fabric, however, I .cordancezwiththe practice iofi-myxinventionw'may prefer that this fabric be inthe; forznhofyparallel :bentilizedin-various appl'ieations. iHowever,;.by moms extendingimm the "pin- 1 to therpin 8. way ofexampleilialm illustratinghereina, spring i. Such1 -f abric formed of.:para1. .e1 cards is ,essenparticularly. useful in: oombinationwith .an auto- .gtial ly thesaimetypeof fabrioused in the manumotivevehicie. v I Pfaeture of;nnsumatie,ti;1-es. ;'I-he secords;rna,y be

iltdsihezobjectot:my vention:to.provideia ,j med'of cotton,;;r ayon,1nylonorsteel. I;pref er xruhber-type sprin ';0f:; 11Q 5 sizewan sc ns mcuse the-steel'orwire cordiabr c ecause oizits tion that: itrmay =b.e.=: readily .zaocommoidated :iasv -e thigh tensile; strength. andiow elongation properweplac ment.for@conventionahsprin s on zautot ss- I v v motivevehieie A;iurtherohfit1isi'tozprovide a 25- .'1?he;layerofiiabriciais s ntiallythesam rubberrsprin which functions directly: by the ..as: the 1 ply of iabri except that the pond i =.'compressivei action of the *rubber. Further :0 th iabri m xtend. mard rectio :at: ri t an les sects ofrmyinvemion arezto provideva sp in tothiercordsthewplyfi- .T eznrincipal urpose which requires/no lubrication -.a -:wh eh wil ofthe. P13715 zl ttqia fiist in maintainin thehord funct o SmODTAh XL qui tly and emaientl .i the: fabric 5: 1 paralle relationship he th oughouta w de r ng -of o emt n s ndi iqns; son niche; n fia -e e. p efe ab y form si-ofucotandto prov desn ih a spring whi mmay be manutenzor rawniecture -:easi v-and:9s sxt miw l -v :ninstand-fi-are ea provided-with "a hTheSB' a d Oth I-o JfiCtsaI-ld ad nte eswil lo itu in llyextendin l t-: (Ei -2 wh ch s appear m r -.-fu11y intheIQ W ng sieta le de- *-v:-shaped.o essisec io .The iebrieiisvloope scription when considered on estion with the em n ewefi e Mia-1rd th wed e with: the fabri accompany rawin s; imwh s :lODDGQ t QreeT-Ouml s fitted into-t -V-shepe Ei ure li as de e iqnal ie n rtly z n =slo 9. o thetleachvend oft e fabricbecomesin .sectionpvf' a spring term ni finrembod ment -Q efiet locked grant. ed w h, he; pins auand 8- .my i ve t 5 i, V V accordan e withcon e tionalp actiseas i an e i n mvi hereof. t e manu a ure of pneu a i mires heiehri partly ins-sect on. the: sec io ingt kemmong nforme 9f.cp n. o ny n QO WQ JineS-IIQJI of Fig-urel; I I I .with an adhesive-endthereaftera thin iayer of :Figute. 31.,is a side 'elevationalview-of a-=,snri-ng 'rllbberdcompositior attached to each .siqehof unit-prior o itsE bQingE-POS tionedJt 6011 12325 v the. ab icvf r en a ing h r s-fin maint i the rubber; 1 ing {them inflp arailel, relationship. When ,wiree figure A isna frontelflfififlhalJli vv} pa tly i-n vcsllfds; are used to-tormthe fabric 5, it isncussection, oi-aportionoI-the front end-ofan autoitom m f rm a, dgpp sit .of .b plate, 911

motive vehicle illustrating the applicationof the {wire gord rand he nejaft e ra pp 1y; g, la ygy g f. y 1 .1 39.139 12 Yehid and i o 50. ber.to each side oi the iabrio for eneesingthe u e =5 :i adeelev tionelr ew iofra s and; maintain n thea o qs in spaniel-plate i on of h l o-autom tive chassis -.-..i1..1usit;rati-n :rth li vyrelationship, example of the w reiiebric aanpli ationnr t e sprin oi -m winwnti neto-the h rein-wed :rpn sts or a wireipqrdjiokmqci-ibf Igm. axleuqf :-an2%11tO 1 ie'Yh -Q1- 1 stee filaments:twis exijtp etherztozszqnstituteta with i refemenqe to thedrawings-end. inznarsome ha in .,-.a:'; a e-of 5036. inch :and "flamingo tensile strength of approximately 190 lbs. These wire cords are laid together in parallel formation and spaced apart to the extent of 20 cords per inch.

After the rubber covered cords forming the fabric 5 are assembled with the pins Iv and 8, and the ply of fabric 5a. is in position, the layer of rubber 6 is applied thereto on one side only of the fabric. This rubber layer 6 is relatively thick such, for example, as times the thickness of the fabric. Also the rubber composition is such that upon vulcanization, its resiliency represents durometer. However, good results have also been obtained by utilizing a stock having a durometer from 35 to 55. After the rubber stock 6 is assembled with the fabric 5, the unit is bent in circular shape as shown in Figure 3 and placed into amold and vulcanized. Such bending is made possible by the fact that the assembled unit is not rigid, that is, both the fabric and the rubber are flexible. It is to be noted that in its relaxed vulcanized position, the fabric 5 is located at the inner periphery of the unit.

In actual use and as shown in Figure 1, the vulcanized spring unit is inverted so that the fabric moves from the inner periphery to the outer periphery. The flexibility of the fabric and of the rubber permits such inversion. As a result of this condition, the thick layer of rubber 6 is forcibly deformed into a reverse arcuate shape in a state of compression and exhibits a spring effectbetween the pins 1 and 8. When two units I and 2 are used in pairs, such as the units I and 2, a balanced condition results whereby an effective spring action is obtained in a direction between which the spring is intended to function.

Since the spring units l and 2 possess an inherent tendency to reverse themselves and assume a position suchas shown in Figure 3,

it is desirable to attach the pins 1 and 8 in fixed position relative to the brackets 3 and 4. This is accomplished by compressing the spring units to substantially of their normal flexing range and to then drill and press in a pin l3 through the ends of each of the pins 1 and 8, thus'locking the pins 1 and 8 with the brackets 3 and 4. Because the pins 1 and 8 are locked with. the brackets 3 and 4, the relaxed position of the spring assembly is restrained from assuming a. maximum extended position. This provides a snubbing action when the spring, in operation, approaches its maximum extended position.

Referring to'the drawings and, in particular, to Figure 4, I show an application of the spring of my invention to the front wheel of a conventional automotive vehicle. In this illustration, it is proposed that the spring of my invention replace the original coil spring independent wheel suspension. This illustration, which is a front view, partly in section, shows a main frame I4 to which are pivotally attached upper and lower parallel links ['5 and I6, respectively, pivotally connected at the end to the steeringhead l'l.

The steering head, in turn, throughconventional associated mechanisms, supports a tire l8. In-

4 terposed between the frame l4 and the lower parallel links 16 is the spring of my invention consisting essentially of spring units l and 2 and their supporting brackets 3 and 5. The wheel is thereby resiliently supported, by reason of the flexibility and resilience of the spring units.

Figure 5 shows a portion of a side view of a vehicle illustrating a rear suspension application. To a main frame 19 is pivotally attached an arm 20 which supports the rear axle 2 I. The spring of my invention designated by spring units and 2 is interposed between the frame 19 and the arm 20. By this arrangement, it is possible to obtain a soft spring action capable of sustaining the desired load by means of the compression of the rubber layer 6 bonded to the inextensible fabric 5. Such compression is made possible by the flexibility of the fabric. In actual construction, an'example of such spring is one having a unit width of from 4 to 5 inches and having a spring travel distance equal to from 6 to 10 inches. It has been demonstrated that a spring of this type consisting of a pair of units I and 2 is capable of performing satisfactorily'while supporting a load in the order of 1200 lbs.

While I have referred to a rubber composition, as constitutingthe compression medium for the spring, it is to be understood that reference to rubber includes both natural and synthetic rub.- bers. Also, while I have shown the application of my invention as relating to av suspension for automotive vehicles, it is to be understood that the spring may be used for various other purposes in replacement of conventional spring suspensions. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A spring comprising, a pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each other, and a spring unit connecting with the pair of opposed supports, said spring unit comprising, a layer of flexible strain resisting elements anchored at'each end of said layer to said supports, and a body of rubber composition bonded to the layer of strain resisting elements, said layer of strain resisting elements and said body of rubber beingsupported in an arcuate position, the rubber body being on an inner perimeter of such are and hem maintained in a state of compression;

2. A spring comprising, a pair-of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each other; and a springunit connecting with the pair of opposed supports, said spring unit comprising, a layer of flexible strain resisting elements anchored at each end of said layer to said supports, anda body of rubber compositionbonded to the layer of strain resisting elements, said spring unit when-in arelaxed state having an arcuate form'with the strain resisting elements located at an innerperimeter of such arc, and said spring unitjbeing supported between said opposed supports in".an arcuate position with the strain resisting elements located at an outer perimeter-of such arc which is a reverse are from the arc'assumedin the relaxed state of the spring unit,wh'ereby the body of rubber is maintained in a state of compression. f r

3. A spring comprising, a pair of opposedsupports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each other, and a spring unit connecting with the pair or opposed supportsfsaid spring unit comprising, a pair of spaced parallel ins, 3. layer of strain resisting elements connected- 'at .each' end- 0f the layer to thez'spaced amend aresilient' body 1 of V rubberrcomposition constituting I a relativelyqthiclier layrthan: said layer of strain resisting -el'ementsbonded to the layer. of strain aresisting' elements, said spring unit having a' naturalarcuate 1 formwith said strainresisting element's'onthe inner perimeter ofthesarc and with said. resilient rubber body on th'e outer perimeter o'f the-arc' when removed from" said supports and" 'wh'en in an unloaded condition, I said layer of strainresisting .elements a nd saidibo'dy or rubber being-supported in the sprlng-= unit in an 'arcuate position the rubber bodybeing- :on'aan inner perimet'er of such are in a- -state of compression and the strain--resis-ting-* elements being on air outer perimeter of such arc. Y 7:34

adaptedfor relative -movement toward bythe body of rubber ismaintained. in a stat of compression. I, 5. A spring com-prising,a pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each othen'and a springunit connecting with the pair of :opposed supports,

's'aicl' spring" unitcomprising, a pair of'= spaced parallelpins each havinga tapered slot-extending longitudinally thereof, a layer of strain resisting elements anchored of each end of said layer to said supports having each of its ends looped through one of said slots, a tapered wedge fitted with each slot for locking the ends of the layer of strain resisting elements with the pins, and a body of rubber composition bonded to the layer of strain resisting elements, said layer of strain resisting elements and said body of rubber being supported in an arcuate position with the body of rubber being located on the inside of such arc and being in a state of compression.

6. A spring comprising, a pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each other, and a pair of spring units facing each other and connecting with the pair of opposed supports, each of said spring units comprising, a layer of flexible strain resisting elements anchored at each end of said layer to said supports, and a body of rubber composition bonded to the layer of strain resisting elements, said layer of strain resisting elements and said body of rubber being supported in an arcuate position with the body of rubber being located on the inside of such arc in a state of compression.

7. A spring comprising, a pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each other, and a pair of spring units facing each other and connecting with the pair of opposed supports, each of said spring units comprising, a plurality of cords in parallel formation forming a layer of strain resisting elements, and a body of rubber composition of a hardness of from to durometer bonded to the layer of strain resisting elements said spring unit when in a relaxed state having an arcuate form with the strain resisting elements located ---s'p'rlngcomprising a pair of opposed sup atsnarr :innerrperimeterzof ssuch arc," said: spring. unitnbeingsupported. in .an arcuate-positionwith the strain resisting elements, located at theouter. perimeterzzof theiarc-w-hich is a reverse arcjfrom the relaxed state. of the spring :.unit,p'wherleby; the. body: of 5 rubber. is maintainecbin .a state ..of compression.

:8.'-.-A. "spring comprising, a,-:.pair :of. opposed supports adapted for 1 relative: movement toward and awayifrom eachrothen; anda pairv of spring. units facing :eachnother and connected withrthe pair for opposed supports, .each :.of.1;said;" spring units: comprising, a: plurality. of. cords: in: parallel. formation "forming. a; layer :of. strain resisting elements, :and. .a body lof rubber, composition bondediztorthe layer .of strainrresisting elements; saidzbody ofzrubber composition :having; a thicknesszof; approximately 1 201 times the'ithickness .01 the layer 1011"- strain resisting: elementszsaid spring unit when in-a .ar'ela'xed: state having. an .arcuate. form with; the strain :resisting. elements located at slant inner p'erimeter. ofysuch arc,';land :said spring tun-it. being; supported in an .arcuate;:position .:with. .the strain resisting elements; located.

- at .xthein'uter.v perimeter -;;of .-the..arc which: is aaof approximately 20 times the thickness of thelayer of strain resisting elements said spring unit when in a relaxed state having an arcuate form with the strain resistin elements located at an inner perimeter of such arc, and said spring unit being supported in an arcuate position with the strain resisting elements located at the outer perimeter of the are which isa reverse arc from the relaxed state of the spring unit, whereby the body of rubber is maintained in a state of compression.

10. A spring comprising, a pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away from each other, and a spring unit connecting with the pair of opposed supports, said spring unit comprising, a pair of spaced parallel pins, a layer of flexible strain resisting elements, a resilient body of rubber composition constituting a relatively thicker layer than said layer of strain resisting elements bonded to the layer of strain resisting elements said spring unit when in a relaxed state having an arcuate form with the strain resisting elements located at an inner perimeter of such arc, said spring unit being supported in the spring unit in an arcuate position with the strain resisting elements located at the outer perimeter of the are which is a reverse arc from the relaxed state of the spring unit, whereby the body of rubber connecting with the pairof opposed supports,

said-spring unit comprisingqa plurality ofcords in parallel formation forming alayer of strain resisting elements, a second layer of strain resisting ielements bonded to said first.v layer; and constituting cords in parallel formation extending in a direction at right angles to the cords in said first named layer, and a body of rubber composition bonded to the layersof strain resisting elements,..said layers of strain resisting elements and said body. of rubber. being sup-. ported in an arcuate position with the body'of rubber maintained'in a state. of compression.

v12.'A .spr'ingcomprising, a .pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward andawayirom each other, and a spring unit connecting with. the'pair of opposed supports, said spring %unit comprising, 'a pair of plies of cords in parallel relation forming layers of strain resisting elements, the. cards in one layer extending at right angles to the direction of the cords in .the other layer,., and a body. of rubber composition bonded to; the layers of strain resistingielements, said layers of strain resisting elements" and said body of rubber being-supported in an arcuate position with the body .of rubber maintained in a state of compression.

13. A spring comprising, a pair of opposed supports adapted forrelative movement-toward and. awayfrom each other," and a spring unit connecting with the pair of opposed supports, said spring unit comprising, a layer of flexible strain resisting elements anchored at each end of said layer .to said supports, means forlocking the strain resisting elements. with the pair of opposed supports and a body of rubber composition bonded to the layer of strain resisting elements, said layer of strain resisting elements and said body of rubber being supported in an arcuate position with,thej body of rubber main: tained in astate ofcompression.

14.,A..-spring comprising; a pair of opposed supports adapted for relative movement toward and away .from each other, and a spring unit connecting with the pair of opposed supports, said. spring unit comprising, a pair of spaced parallel pins, a la-ye'r-offlexible strain resisting elements, connected at; each end of the layer to the spaced pins, means for locking the pinswith thesupports, and a resilient. body of rubber corn; position constituting a-trelatively thicker layer than saidlayer of strain resisting elements bonded tothe layer of strain resisting elements, said spring unit having a natural arcuate form with said strain resisting elements on the. inner perimeter of the arcand with said resilientrub; her-body on the outer perimeter of the are when removed from said supports andwhen in an un-. loaded condition, said layer of strain resisting elements and said body .of rubber being sup: ported in the spring vunitin an arcuate position with the body of rubber maintained in a'state of compression.

} ERNST EGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inathe file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Date N m N e 7 57,365 Murphy Aug. 21, 1866 1,427,933 Bell a Sept. 5, 1922, 2,251,453

J acksonf; Aug. 5,-194 =1. 

